Hebman urban



' I H. URBAN. Apparatus for Tampering Steel-Plates and Similar IArticles. N0. 141,837. Patented AugustI 2-,I873.

,\\\\\\\\\\ ill- Z a AM PHOTUi ITHDGHAPHIC 00. MW assannf PnacEsQ UNIEHERMAN URBAN, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR TEMPERING STEEL PLATES AND SIMILARARTICLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. February To all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN URBAN, of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio,have invented a new and useful Tempering Apparatus, of which thefollowing is a specification:

This invention relates to an apparatus wherewith large plates of steel,such as are employed in the manufacture of fire-proof safes, 850., canbe tempered in the most expeditious and thorough manner, and in such away as to prevent the slightest buckling or warping. To accomplish thisresult I provide two boxes or chambers, which are placed parallel witheach other and a suitable distance apart, the inner or opposing sides ofsaid boxes being provided with a large number of orifices for thesimultaneous and uniform discharge of water upon the sides of the heatedsteel plate, which is inserted between said boxes, as hereinafter morefully described. The water thus projected upon the heated plates holdsin solution common salt or other chemical agent, such as will produce asuitable pickle, and this pickle is contained in a reservoir, which iselevated from twenty to forty feet so as to give a good head or pressureof water in the above-described boxes or chambers. The water isconducted from this elevated reservoir to the perforated boxes bysuitable valveguarded pipes, and after being ejected from said boxesupon the heated plates it flows into a tank, within which these boxesare located. After being used, the water is returned from the tank tothe elevated reservoir by any suitable pumping apparatus, thus avoidingan waste of the pickle.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of a tempering apparatus embodying myimprovements, a heated plate of steel being shown as in the act of beinginserted between the perforated boxes. Fig. 2 is a plan of the aforesaidperforated boxes on a somewhat enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a transversesection of the perforated boxes, showing a plate of steel inserted inposition between them and the jets of water dischargin g upon the sidesof said heated plate. Fig. 4: is a plan of the bellcranks, which areemployed for the simultaneous opening and closing of the valves whichcontrol the flow of water to the perforated boxes. Fig. 5 is a renew,dated August 12, 1873 application filed 24, 1873.

horizontal section, showing a form of perforated boxes adapted for thetempering of angle-steel braces, corner pieces, &c.

A represents an open tank of any suitable dimensions, and having securedwithin it a number of transverse beams or sills, B, for the support ofboxes or chambers 0 0. These boxes are rectangular vessels, and arepreferably made of cast-iron, although they can be constructed of wood,in which case the planks composing them should be stout enough to resistthe pressure of water that is exerted within said boxes. The inner oropposing sides of these boxes consist of plates D, which are piercedwith a large number of perforations, d, that may be of any suitablesize, and as near together as will be the most effective. The tops ofthese boxes have openings E, which are covered with caps F, the removalof which permits said boxes being cleared of any sediment or otherobstructions that may accumulate within them and choke up thedischarge-orifices d. Securely bolted to the upper and under sides ofthese boxes are guides G G, between which the heated plate of steel Y isinserted. The distance from these guidebars to the boxes should be suchas to maintain the heated plate in a position that will insure itreceiving, simultaneously on both its sides, the full force of thenumerous jets of water as they issue from the orifices d- Brackets hattached either to the sills B or the under side of boxes 0 G serve tosupport a longitudinal bar or shelf, H, upon which the heated plate ofsteel rests, as more clearly shown in Fig. 3. The chambers O 0 haveattached to their ends inlet-pipes I I J J, which communicate with anelevated reservoir, K, the latter being supported upon a staging, L.This reservoir may be placed at any suitable elevationsay from twenty toforty feet, or more, according .to the pressure of water which it isdesired to have within the perforated boxes.

The ends of the pipes I I and J J, which proj ect within the reservoir Kare provided with puppet or other suitable valves.@' '5' and j j, thatare capable of being opened by rods M. These rods extend up, and areattached to the short arms of bell-cranks N N O 0, the latter beingpivoted to brackets n a o 0. These brackets project from beams P, whichare dis posed alhwart the upper end of the reservoir. In order that thedischarge-valves i z" and jj may be opened and closed simultaneously,the long arms of the said bell-cranks are connected by links 1' with arod or rope, R, which extends down near the tank A, so as to be readilygrasped by the operators who handle the plates. This rod or ropetraverses a tube, S, which passes up through the reservoir, which tubemay serve as an overflow-pipe for the same. Attached to thedischarge-pipes that lead from the reservoir and below the valves 1' iand j j are small tubes T, whose upper ends project above thewater-level in said reservoir. The object of these small tubes is toadmit air below the valves i t" and jj as soon as they are closed, so asto insure the draining of pipes I I and J J, which precaution isnecessary to prevent them freezing up and bursting in the winter-season.V A pump, U, having a discharge-pipe, V, is employed for returning thewater from tank A to the elevated reservoir K. In the drawing this pumpis shown as being operated by a crank and pitman 5 but it is evidentthat an independent steam-pump, a siphon-pum p, or other suitable meansmay be employed for elevating the water. Grapplingirons or hooks W,depending from a rope or chain, X, facilitate the handling of the heatedplate Y. Any approved form of furnace, Z, may be employed for heatingthe plates.

The plate Y to be tempered is first cut to the proper size, andperforated at y for the reception of the bolts, rivets, &c., after whichit is placed in the furnace Z and heated to the proper temperature.After being thus heated the plate is removed from the furnace andconveyed to the side of the tank, at which position the hooks W areinserted in the aperture y, and the plate elevated above the tank, andthen allowed to descend between the guides G G and rest upon thesupporting-shelf H, which operation is accomplished in a few moments. Assoon as the heated plate has been deposited upon the shelf the operatorthen pulls the cord or rod B so as to open simultaneously the valves it"and j j, and allow the brine or pickle contained within the reservoir Kto descend and fill the boxes 0 O, and issue through the orifices ddirectly upon the sides of said plate.

' Owing to the head of water due to the elevated reservoir, the jets areejected simultaneousl y, upon both sides of the heated plate, from theperforations in the opposing boxes 0 O, and the result is that saidplate of steel is uniformly cooled throughout its entire length andbreadth.

This method of tempering the plate renders it equally hard at everypoint, and as it is cooled in a perfectly uniform manner it neverbuckles or warps in the least, and when removed from the bath presentsas flat and unwarped appearance as it did before being placed in thefurnace.

When the plate has been sufficiently cooled it is withdrawn from betweenthe guides G G, and the water discharged into the tank is returned tothe reservoir by the pumps U, after which the above described operationmay be repeated until the requisite number of plates have been tempered.

As the same water is used over and over again there is no waste of thepickle, thereby effecting a saving of water and salt, and preserving thebrine of the same strength.

The form of perforated box, shown in Fig. 5, is intended forangle-steels, corner pieces, &o., and it is evident that this method oftempering, by projecting jets of water from the opposing sides ofperforated chambers, boxes, pipes, or other receptacles upon heatedplates, can be arranged so as to be employed for any shape or size ofsheets that require hardening.

An obvious but inferior modification of my apparatus can be arranged byomitting the reservoir K and supplying the boxes 0 G with water from thestreet mains. In this case, however, the water would not be salt, and itcould not be used repeatedly on account of its becoming too hot; butwith the arrangement herein illustrated the length of pipe V, and theexposed surface of the reservoir, maintains the brine" continually at aslow a temperature as is necessary.

In establishments where unusually large plates are used a greater numberofperforated boxes may be employed than is represented in thesedrawings.

I do not claim subjecting the heated steel plates to the action of acurrent of water under pressure, as I am aware thatthis has been donebefore, though not by applying the water in the form of jets uniformlyover the surface, as described by me.

I claim as my invention- 1. A tempering apparatus consisting essentiallyof two or more perforated receptacles, between which the heated plate istemporarily placed and subjected upon both of its sidesto the action ofjets of water or brine, which are simultaneously ejected under pressurefrom said perforated receptacles, substantially as herein explained.

2. The combination of tank A, boxes or chambers U C D d, guides G G,support H, pipes I I J J z i j j, reservoir K, valve-operating device MN N O O R, and pump U, or equivalent devices, for the object hereinstated.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

HERMAN URBAN. Attest:

Gno. H. KNIGHT, J AMEsH. LAYMAN.

